Take A Chance On You

It is goodbye for now 

The time has come for me to hang up my hat on Season 1 of the Take A Chance On You podcast!

In total, 21 guests joined me to share their stories and paths of discovery, how success can be achieved at any stage of life, not just at the end, but in the beginning. 

The way this podcast has truly transformed my way of thinking and those around me will never be underestimated.

From an idea to naming the podcast and turning it into a show for the world to hear.

The FEEDBACK given by so many of you already has been fantastic, and to all the guests I want to say a huge thank you. 

Similar to one of my earlier episodes, I am going to give a quick roundup of each guests in this cohort so you can go and listen to your desired episode. 

A big thank you to Barra, Bloomsbury Institute and Dixie for always being around and helping me get this podcast off the ground.

As I mentioned before, season 2 is underway, and I will be interviewing aspiring leaders and leaders on their way, could this be you?? 

Get in touch to feature and have a great summer. 

See you soon,

Alexandra x

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker.

Navigating cyber security and the essential role of a CISO today.

In today's digital landscape, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding an organisation's most valuable assets. Join Alexandra and special guest Edward Millington (joining us from the CARIBBEAN!!) as they sit down to discuss leadership, mentorship, cyber security frameworks, the multifaceted responsibilities of a CISO, and the complex world of cyber security.

Explore the dynamic landscape of leadership as we dive into the evolution and challenges faced by today's leaders. In this episode, we uncover how leadership styles have transformed in response to technological advancements, cultural shifts, and global challenges.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to step into a leadership role, this episode offers valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of leadership.

Special guest Edward, is a Principal Security Consultant, the Founder and Managing Director of CariSec Global Inc., a company at the forefront of Next-Generation Managed Security Service Providers, delivering Risk-Integrated Cyber security and ICT-managed strategic services across various sectors: financial, government, health, manufacturing, private, retail, and energy and utilities.

Edward’s leadership is a cornerstone of his success. With a wealth of experience spanning close to three decades in the fields of information systems security, information and communications technology, and telecommunications, he has successfully guided numerous organisations to achieve their strategic goals and objectives. His exceptional approach to strategic planning, design, and solutions direction, leveraging his unparalleled expertise and innovation in varying specialised areas like governance, risk and compliance, instills confidence in his ability to lead, guide and advise.

Edward’s has been featured across several security magazines and has spoken at multiple global and regional conferences.

Edwards achievements include:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics and is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).

• Certified Information Security Professional (CISSP).

• PECB Certified – Chief Information Security Officer.

• Senior Lead SOC 2 Analyst.

• ISO/IEC 27005 Information Security Senior Lead Risk Manager and ISO/IEC 27035 Information Security.

• Fellow member of the Royal Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) and a candidate assessor and interviewer.

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Join host Alexandra as she sits down with Bina, the visionary founder of Jivan Room, a luxury hair salon in London. 

With 17 years of experience, Bina shares her inspiring journey from traditional hairdressing, studying an NVQ after her GCSE's at school, to building a bespoke six-figure business. Discover her strategies for creating a unique client experience, the importance of understanding your target audience, and the power of perseverance and innovation in the beauty industry.

Bina specialises in focusing on emotional connection. Make sure you tune in for insights on branding, self-care, and the art of pivoting in business.

Bina's client-base is renowned for including top leaders in London, curating a bespoke space that offers an air of escapism and free-flowing conversation.

Bina delves into the art of personalisation in luxury styling, sharing how she crafts bespoke experiences for each client. From selecting personalised scents and music to offering one-on-one consultations, Bina reveals how attention to detail and understanding client needs have been pivotal in building her successful brand. Tune in to explore the transformative power of personalised service in the beauty industry.

Bina shares her insights on effective strategies for business growth and client retention, emphasising the importance of continuous improvement, understanding your target audience, and creating a unique client experience. Discover how Bina's focus on existing clientele and personalised service has driven her salon's success, and learn valuable tips for building a loyal customer base in any industry.

Bina Patel - LinkedIn

Jivan Room - Website

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker.

In a city as connected as London, it’s possible to be surrounded by people and still feel disconnected. For Nimi Singh, founder of The Table App, this experience became the spark for something quietly radical: helping people feel more connected, one table at a time.

In this episode of Take A Chance on You, host Alexandra Forsyth sits down with Nimi to explore how social dining can combat loneliness. They discuss: The healing power of gathering around a table:

- How presence and intentionality can build authentic community

- Why loneliness isn’t just about being alone, it's also about feeling unseen

- The art of designing spaces where strangers become something more

Listen as Nimi shares her journey from experiencing surface-level interactions to being an early-stage Founder building a platform that brings people together with intention.

Whether you’re seeking new friendships, meaningful conversation, or simply to be more social, this episode invites you to explore how we might gather differently, and more intentionally. At The Table App, connection isn’t left to chance. The most meaningful conversations happen when thoughtfully chosen people gather around a table to share a meal together. Reach out to learn more.

Connect with Nimi: ⁠Linkedin

Sign-up: ⁠The Table App

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Nikesh Bhadlia and Sophie Darlington: Round Two Back Again and Ready to Share Strategies For Building a Creative Portfolio 

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Recap 

Nikesh and Sophie spoke about the following key points in their previous episode. 

• Mentorship 
• The power of friendship 
• Big Creative Education help during apprenticeship CV building and internship process 
• How to stand-out in an overwhelming saturated industry 
• Not letting rejection stop you from applying to roles and keep going until you find the company for you

Nikesh and Sophie are two apprentices working in London with Music Maestro, a creative marketing and production company hosting a portfolio of record labels for content creation, radio and video content, visualising and marketing assets. 

Nikesh and Sophie have embedded themselves in the creative industry, with Nikesh sharing his passions for creating digital designs and photography, which led him to build a portfolio through his own projects from his A-Level Graphic Design course, later using this to apply for apprenticeships. Meanwhile, Sophie began working with premiere Adobe suite and general Media studies during school, before going onto study full-time Media at college through to university completing her degree in Film Production over three years. 

Today’s episode

How to manage expectations when creating a portfolio that matches experience and skills, whilst matching the overall theme in the industry which is to be authentic and truly represent your passions through graphic design, video, content, media and more. 

For Nikesh, his portfolio shows self-reflection and personal development. A range of different pieces. 3D work with blender, graphic, logo design and photography which helped him to put it all together and emphasise his trajectory. Nikesh also had to explain and discuss key points, showing progression throughout his apprenticeship and the breadth and depth in quality of work. 

For Sophie, she has been working on putting together pieces both personally and professionally, showcasing her creative side using Adobe Suite. Sophie’s love for travelling, expression, graphic design, and eye-catching content shine through. Little did Sophie know at the time, but it was her portfolio that made her stand-out during the interview process for her current role working with Nikesh. 

Both Nikesh and Sophie make it clear for anyone listening that a CV may not cut it in the creative industry, and a portfolio can be the deciding factor for employers. This type of work on display can be consistently updated overtime, showing clear signs of growth and upskilling. 

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is ’Taking back control and leaning into community’. 

Wolf from the stars in Latin, is the name of Sophie's energy coaching practice ‘Lupo Astralis’ focusing on helping people through self-discovery. Based on energetic blueprint. 

Prior to coaching, Sophie worked across the start-up and investment banking corporate space, including data analytics and sales. 

Sophie discusses being intentional and finding a mentor. Normalising life and how the world is shifting, meaning it is acceptable to move around and change roles. 

Human Design combines astrology, Kabbalah, Myers-Briggs, I Ching, quantum physics, and the chakra system to generate an “energetic blueprint” called a BodyGraph. Strategy focuses on how you use your Energy and interact with outside stimuli, while Authority is about how your body tells you if a decision is the right one for you. 

‘What do I actually want’? Sophie discusses the importance of taking time away from the day-to-day activities and roadmapping your life. Although this feels scary, when you do start going off and doing your own thing, it can be very empowering and allow you to discover yourself. 

The hardest conversations are the one’s we have with ourselves. What do we value and want from life? 

Community can offer a good sounding board, and help you to interact with others on a more purposeful level. 

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Alecia Cotterell: Student education, job application tips and emerging technology shaping higher education. 

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is 'Back to Basics, Creating Success in The Job Market'. 

Alecia is Head of Careers at Teesside University London, providing a unique offering to enhance graduate success - 20% of every module students undertake across all subject areas focus on employability skills. From day one students hit the ground running to develop the type of skills and experiences that employers in their industry are looking for.

Alecia is passionate about empowering students to find ways to stand out in the graduate market, particularly international students who make up a high proportion of the campus.Challenges discussed include the overuse of technology such as AI to enhance the application process, and ways to stand out in the initial application stages within an increasingly competitive job market.

Suggested strategies include students tailoring their responses to each individual job application, arguing it is better to apply for less roles, and provide quality answers to each recruiter / company.

Getting students to feel motivated, passionate and curious about prospective job roles is also crucial to Alecia’s mission, alongside identifying opportunities to develop experience and transferable skills.An example for a Computing student could be volunteering Data Science support for a local charity – the student analyses this data, searches for trends, makes predictions and helps the charity implement changes. 

The student in turn, builds on their strategic skills which is increasingly appealing for recruiters in the tech sector.

A common pain-point for a lot of students and graduates is the lack of feedback from companies post-application / interview. Alecia recommends emailing, or calling to speak with the hiring manager. In addition, students should make use of the resources in their reach – your university careers service, internship schemes, and networks can all be tapped into. 

Teesside University London offers funded internships, paying businesses on behalf of taking on students, providing salaries and opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the workplace. This is currently being offered to second year students, and they’ve gained a wide-range of industry-relevant experience and key connections with future employers.

When it comes to AI in the workplace, if more entry-level roles start disappearing on account of the part AI plays in automation, there may be higher expectations for candidates applying for these types of roles. Students and those early in their career can decide to be at the forefront of change, gaining an understanding now and the skills needed for progression. 

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Akanksha Singh: Digital Marketing Strategies and Opportunities For Business Growth 

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is ‘digital marketing and strategies for businesses’. 

Akanksha is pursuing many passions in her life, from helping small to medium size businesses with their digital marketing and social media marketing strategies, alongside hosting her own podcast ‘The Storyteller Lens’, working on a secret project, and completing an MBA. 

It is safe to say Akanksha is BUSY, however she joined Take A Chance On You this week to break down myths in building a strong brand. 

Myths: 

• Marketing results in Instant success and can be achieved without putting in the work to make a brand successful. 

Solution - Optimise your brand by gaining feedback from your audience on product preferences and try different things out, in terms of email and people marketing. It is a slow moving process. 

• Social media is free. 

Solution - Social media is free for your brand to use, however when building your business, a mixture of paid and organic content is needed. 

• Displaying ads can be too expensive for little results. 

Solution - It can take time to see progress with ads, and will require some investment from even small brands for return on investment (ROI). You need to keep track and monitor outcome / metrics and adjust strategy accordingly. 

• Print ads are a thing of the past. 

Solution - Magazines, and printed news are still relevant in today’s hyper digital world. Putting an ad in print form can attract an untapped market in-person, interested in your content and product. 

• Influencers should always be hired external to your brand.

Solution - Utilising employees and behind-the-scenes content can really bring a brand to life, build trust and credibility amongst the target audience. It shouldn’t always be a ‘faceless’ brand. People are searching for connection and community professionally and personally. 

• There is no relevance in partnerships who have substitute products. 

Solution - If one brand sells coffee and another sells coffee pods, synergy can be formed, a win-win situation between brands capitalising on each other’s communities and revenue generation streams. 

Follow Akanksha's journey - LinkedIn

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is “mental health advocacy using technology, AI and the power of your voice".

My FIRST U.S-based guest on the podcast! 🇺🇸

This episode is extraordinary and ONE you need to listen! 

So excited this week to be passing the mic to Doris, based in Seattle, Washington. 

Doris was originally born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪 and has spent time working as a transformational change leader, with a background in engineering. 

In this podcast episode, Doris shares her story for the very first time,  raising awareness for suicide and mental health, removing stigma and shame associated with these hard hitting topics.  

Doris when losing her memory turned to AI to create imagery, and prompts to create images / movie reels to share her story because she could not tap into her emotions. Doris started using Microsoft Copilot a few years ago and the rest is history! 

Today, Doris is a mental health advocate, founding KijijiLink. It takes a village; care in crisis. Bringing communities together through mental health and technology awareness. Zulu word ubuntu means ‘I am because you are’ - using tech for good, sharing stories, connecting and inspiring each others. 

I am also excited for you hear about Doris strategies when launching a new startup venture, successfully pivoting from corporate into entrepreneurship. 

Three pillars, spirituality, psychology, and medicine to share it is not a stigma, and that we need more leaders to create change. We need educators and leaders to bring their own examples to life more, alongside a shift in mindset for attendees to open up and step in. 

Don’t be afraid to be different, like yourself, find mentors, rise above the criticism, and only be receptive of the feedback you wish to receive!

Season 1 - episodes produced by Bloomsbury Institute.

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is 'How a problem can lead to a new opportunity and creating a modern approach to thrive in today's world of work.'

Take A Chance On You is joined this week by ⁠VERSA⁠ co-founders ⁠Rachel Poole⁠and ⁠Koosje Eatenton⁠ exploring the founding story of Versa, their passion for building a platform that elevates women not just professionally, but personally, through their latest feature where women can invite their own trusted friends and pass on great roles they think they would love.

During the episode, Rachel and Koosje shared how they met, the value of self-acceptance, and how making the co-founder journey fun and fulfilling has been central to their success.

Taking a step back - as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week and Month in May, Koosje and Rachel describe their passion and excitement for Versa and helping working women in their early careers and overcoming challenges in motherhood. 

Koosje and Rachel first met on the street during COVID (socially distanced of course), and decided to connect. A gentle reminder that it is In the most unlikely times of life, you can build relationships and combat loneliness together, especially being mothers wanting to return to work, or freelance workers finding new projects. 

Versa is a platform for women returning to work, or wanting to work part-time, fractional / freelance, looking for purposeful career opportunities and inspiration. 

Driven by women and their desires is the key mission for Versa, making sure users have optimal experiences. 

Addressing Pain Points: 

• Feeling out of the loop in the community after taking a career break, 
• Overwhelmed by the huge jump in content online and digesting the right information, 
• Time consuming job search and identifying the right kind of opportunities.

Leadership is also a topic that is growing in interest from high-ranking women wanting to contribute cross-industry, identifying skills and connecting them to the right types of roles is crucial for growth. 

The idea and concept of staying with one company and one project is dwindling as people look for jobs that align with their passions and values. Why can't we create new roles for employees and ask them questions on what they want - roadmap career trajectory utilising all skills, providing a modern approach? 

Bringing your 'whole self' to work, challenging the status quo, modernising outreach and speaking up for yourself brings about change, an area Versa are keen to explore alongside the 'human' approach and desire to bring the 'heart' back to life, wellness, technology, community and individuals.